Index-book



No Model.) A. V BOWKER- INDEX BOOK.

r mm Um 3 M w Patg nted Nov. 2,1897.

m: cams vnzns co wormixms WASki-NGYON, o a

UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

ALPHONSO V. BOYVKER, OF-ATHOL, MASSACHUSETTS.

INDEX-BOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,981, dated November2, 1897.

Application filed April 19,1897 Serial No. 632,719. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALPnoNso V. Bownnn, of Athol, in the county ofW'orcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Index- Books, of which the following, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

My invention relates to index-books; and it consists in certain novelfeatures of construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, whichwill be readily understood by reference to the description of theaccompanying drawings and to the claims hereto appended and in which myinvention is clearly pointed out.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a side elevation of an index-book closedthat illustrates my invention. Fig. :2 is a similar elevation of thebook open or having a portion of the leaves turned over to the left, andFig. 3 is an end view of the book opened.

In the drawings, a a are a series of leaves of cardboard or othersuitable comparatively thick and stiff material made of uniform lengthsand widths, said leaves being hinged to stubs b b of similar material,but of varying widths, by strips of flexible and tough material, aslinen fabric 0 c, said stubs b I) being arranged one upon the other withthe widest stub at the end of the book' and the narrowest at itsbeginning and with their outer edges in the same plane and securelybound together by sewing through and through the whole group of stubs orby metallic fastenings, said sewing or metallic fastenings passingthrough said stubs and the cover cl.

The stubs Z) I) increase in width by a uniform amount from the first tothe last stub of the book, and as the leaves a a are of uniform widththe aggregate width of the leaves and stubs are correspondinglyincreased,and when the book is closed each succeeding leaf a proj'ectsbeyond the one preceding it to form a margin upon which may be placedthe index ing-letters A B O D, &c., as shown in Fig. 1, or any otherdesignating-characters.

The cover 6 is hinged to the outer edge of the first or narrowest stub11 and to the back f, so as to open freely without affecting thepositions of the stubs b, which remain at all times substantiallyparallel to the cover cl, as shown in Fig. 3.

The cover 6 is made of a width corresponding to the aggregate width ofthe first leaf a and stub 1), less the amount of projection of one leafbeyond the other, so as not to hide the indexing-letters on said firstleaf when the book is closed as shown in Fig. 1.

The leaves a a are lettered upon each side in' the usual manner, andwhen the book is opened each leaf a turns upon its hinge connection toits stub b, and as a consequence the lettering on the margin of eachleaf turned to the left will be as plainly visible as those on theleaves not so turned.

Between the leaves a a at certain desirable points are inserted one ormore thinner and more flexible leaves g g of a size corresponding to thesize of the combined leaf a and stub Z7 next preceding it, said leaves gextending to the back f and are perforated and secured in position bythe same fastenings by which the stubs b are secured together.

The operation of my invention will be readily understood from theforegoing without. further description here.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is-

l. In an index-book the combination of a series of leaves of uniformwidths composed of cardboard or other suitable comparatively thick andstiff material; a corresponding series of stubs of similar material andthickmess, but of different widths; a hinge of thin flexible but durablematerial connecting each of said leaves with one of said stubs; andsuitable througl1-and-through fastenings securing all of said stubstogether with their outer edges all in the same plane.

2. In an index-book the combination of a series of leaves of uniformwidths composed of cardboard or other suitable comparatively thick andstiff material; a corresponding series of stubs of similar material andthickness but of different widths; a hinge of thin flexible but durablematerial connecting each of said leaves with one of said stubs; one ormore leaves of thin flexible paper interposed between said thickerleaves and having a width slightly less than the aggregate width of thethickerleaf and its stub next preceding it; and extending to the outeror back edge of said stubs; and fastening devices passing through all ofsaid stubs and said thinner leaves.

3 In an index-book the combination of a series of leaves of uniformwidths composed of cardboard or other suitable comparatively thick andstiff material; a corresponding series of stubs of similar material andthickness but of varying Widths; a hinge of thin flexible but durablematerial connecting each,

of said leaves with one of said stubs; a stiff covering-leaf having awidth equal to the aggregate width of one ofi said leaves and the Widestof said stubs, the outer edges of all of said stubs and one edge of saidcovering-leaf being in the same plane; fastenings passing through all ofsaid stubs and cover; a second

